Greetings,

Our new year in Tucson started off with a rare treat -- snow. And with that dramatic scene, we kick off 2015 and our Centennial year.

Photo courtesy of the UA Biosphere 2.

While classes do not start for another week, the law commons is abuzz as we prepare for the spring semester.

This week we feature alumnus Brett Dunkelman, 3L Lisa Cohen, and the upcoming conference on The Rehnquist Court: Ten Years Later, presented by the William H. Rehnquist Center on the Constitutional Structures of Government.

We are also kicking off our Centennial Snapshot of the week as a standing section in the Wildcat Wednesday. Check it out below!

Until the Footnotes,

Marc 

One of the great hallmarks of Arizona's legal community is a commitment to congeniality. Brett Dunkelman is one of the finest representations of this commitment. He is known by friends and colleagues as an outstanding lawyer, a valuable friend, and a true gentleman.

When discussing his path to law school. Brett shares a traditional mantra.

"From an early childhood onward, I was constantly told by nearly everyone -- parents, teachers, neighbors, etc. -- that I should go to law school and become a lawyer. As a result, becoming a lawyer was just about the last thing in the world I wanted to do, at least for a while." 

For two years after he finished college and grad school, he taught English and coached track and cross country at Tucson High School. He even taught students who would later become Arizona Law alumni. 

Then in 1977, Brett came to Arizona Law. He credits the collegial atmosphere, a hands-on student oriented faculty, and small classes as strong factors in his decision to come to the U of A -- traditions we are proud to maintain today.

Brett served as Editor in Chief of the Arizona Law Review. He also clerked at the former Tucson law firm of Schorr, Leonard & Felker, and at Lewis and Roca (now Lewis Roca Rothgerber) in Phoenix.

He held two judicial clerkships after law school -- first with U.S. District Court Judge William P. Copple in Phoenix (1980-81) and then with then-Associate Justice Rehnquist at the United States Supreme Court (1981-82).  He notes that while the district court clerkship may have had more practical application for what he does now, the Supreme Court clerkship was a pretty special experience too.

"In addition to being exposed to some of the finest legal minds of the time, what I remember most about the year would be the frequent walks with Justice Rehnquist around the outside of the Supreme Court building, during which we would discuss cases set for oral argument, what questions to ask, or how a particular issue should be handled in an opinion he was writing. The Justice preferred to "walk around the block" rather than have his clerks write formal memoranda, but it still required substantial preparation in advance. October Term 1981 was an historic year at the Court, as it was Justice O'Connor's first term as a Justice and several high profile cases were decided that are probably still included in law school textbooks."   

Since that time, Brett has been at Osborn Maledon in Phoenix. His practice has focused predominantly on intellectual property and antitrust litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels.

His wife, Annette, is a CPA doing tax work for a local CPA firm. He has two stepdaughters and a son-in-law. His oldest stepdaughter, Andrea, and her husband, Uri, are both first-year lawyers in Southern California. They were classmates at Berkeley Law.  His younger stepdaughter, Michelle, is a graduate student in nutrition at ASU. 

Brett and his family at his daughter Andrea's wedding.

He shared that in order to keep his sanity, "I run for about 70 minutes every morning, albeit at a far slower pace than when I was a competitive distance runner some 35+ years ago."

Our students make the world a better place by translating their experiences into solutions for clients, ranging from individuals to local nonprofits to government agencies to international businesses.

Lisa Cohen's passion for the law developed at an early age. When she was ten years old, her family immigrated to Phoenix from Johannesburg, South Africa. 

"I had a difficult immigration filled with uncertainty and so I knew that I wanted be an attorney to help immigrants just as our immigration attorney had helped my family and me."

She came to Arizona Law from Arizona State University where she earned two degrees: Spanish and transborder studies, with a focus on Mexican immigration and economy.

In the course of her studies at Arizona Law she developed a passion and skill for tax, estate planning, and elder law. She is working toward earning certificates in tax law and policy and in family and juvenile law.

Building on her long-term practice interest, she is currently a research assistant for Professor Mona Hymel, gaining a more in-depth knowledge of tax law.

Lisa (right), her brother, Howard (middle), and Class of 2014 alumna Swati Awasthi (left).

In the summer of her first year, she was a judicial extern for the Maricopa County Superior Court. During her second summer, she served as a legal intern for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project working with undocumented minors -- notably the large influx of unaccompanied minors coming in from Central America. She also participated as a student attorney in the Immigration Law Clinic.

Driven by experience and empowered by those around her, Lisa remarks, 

"Family is very important to me. My parents gave up everything to bring my brother and me to the United States, and they always stressed an education, so I want to make them proud by obtaining my law degree from the University of Arizona."

When she is not busy studying tax and immigration statutes and regulations, you can find Lisa hiking through the Sonoran Desert or playing basketball.

The Rehnquist Conference offers a thorough examination and interactive conversation on the jurisprudence of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. With the benefit of ten years of hindsight, a distinguished group of jurists, scholars, and attorneys will discuss his influence and lasting impact on American law.

Featuring the following panels and discussions:

• Federalism: Lynn A. Baker and David S. Schwartz; moderated by Charles J. Cooper

• The Role of Chief Justice: Judge John D. Bates, Judge Carolyn Dineen King; moderated by Russell Wheeler

• Criminal Procedure: Richard D. Friedman, Alexandra Natapoff, and Judge John M. Walker, Jr.; moderated by Dean Marc Miller

• The First Amendment and Religion: Caroline Mala Corbin, Richard Garnett, Linda C. McClain, and Barry P. McDonald; moderated by Dean Emerita Toni Massaro

Friday, February 6, 2015

Westward Look Resort

Tucson, Arizona

Register Here.

***These panels may qualify for CLE credit***

University Hall -- now known as Old Main (1916).

In 2015, we mark 100 years of history at Arizona's first law school. The University of Arizona's law program began in September 1915, shortly after Arizona became the 48th state.

At first, the law program had no building of its own, and its classes, faculty, and library were accommodated from time to time by Old Main, agriculture, the University library, and Herring Hall. 

Back by popular demand, the Gutter Bowl returns in the spring. Mark your calendars and start practicing now. Special Thanks to Alison Bachus, Jessica Post, Tom Stack, Geoff Balon, Coree Neumeyer, and honorary co-chairs Steve Hirsch and Chas Wirken for planning this event. 

SAVE THE DATE: March 4, 2015, Bowlmor Scottsdale.

7300 East Thomas Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

Alumni, faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend.
 

QuantLaw Presents: A Conversation with John Donohue (Stanford), Jeff Fagan (Columbia), and Saul Levmore (Chicago)

Theory Work on Data

John Donohue, "The Big Controversy in Empirical Evaluation of Law and Policy"

Data Work on Policing

Jeff Fagan

Theory Work on Aging

Saul Levmore, "Aging: Retirement by Contract"

Monday, January 26th

4:00-5:30

Ares Auditorium (Room 164)

No RSVP Required. 

I hope the holidays offered relaxing time with friends and family. Following a forty year  tradition, my family spent New Years in  Mammoth Lakes, California.

As you take your first steps in your new year's resolutions, remember that getting involved at Arizona Law is guaranteed to help you lose weight: the more events you attend, the more walking you'll do!

We will have a variety of events, conferences, lectures, and conversations throughout our Centennial year. Keep an eye on the footnotes and add them to your calendar.

We look forward to seeing you throughout the year.

Warmly,